High-throughput method development for in-situ quantification of aquatic phototrophic biofilms

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Biotechnology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biofouling in the maritime sector poses significant economic and environmental challenges.
• Accurate in situ quantification of biofilm development is difficult due to ecosystem complexity, accessibility issues, and lack of standardized methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for in situ and in vitro quantification of phototrophic biofilm development.
• To assess the efficiency of inherent chlorophyll fluorescence using a microplate reader for biofilm monitoring.

Main Methods:

• An artificial polymeric surface was tested under both field (in situ) and laboratory (in vitro) conditions.
• Phototrophic biofilms (natural and monoculture) were analyzed using microplate reader fluorescence.
• Method validation was performed by comparing fluorescence microscopy coupled with image analysis.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation was observed between the microplate reader fluorescence method and fluorescence microscopy.
• Inherent chlorophyll fluorescence effectively quantified undisturbed phototrophic biofilms in both field and laboratory settings.
• The developed method demonstrated high efficiency for high-throughput biofilm testing.

Conclusions:

• The proposed microplate reader-based fluorescence method is a promising tool for monitoring phototrophic biofilm development.
• This approach offers a reliable and efficient solution for various research and industrial applications requiring biofilm quantification.
• The technique facilitates high-throughput analysis, potentially accelerating research and development in antifouling strategies.